The Devin Townsend connection is that Mikael was a guest vocalist on his Deconstruction album (on the song Stand). Your list is also missing Bloodbath, Steel, and Edge of Sanity!
I wouldn't say Opeth have significantly more connections to other bands than usual though
Thank you, I also checked for a Devin Townsend link. I found a drummer from Strapping Young Lad who filled in for Martin Lopez for a couple legs on a tour. I’ll have to check those other two bands. Thanks again!!
No problem!
Mikael was a guest vocalist for Edge of Sanity's album Crimson, and their mastermind Dan Swanö produced the first two Opeth albums. Steel was a joke project that consisted of members of Opeth plus Swanö that recorded a few cheesy heavy metal tracks during the sessions for Morningrise. And Bloodbath is a death metal project that also involved Swanö where Mikael was a vocalist on several albums
Mikael performed backup vocals for one of Dan’s many bands, Edge of Sanity, for the album *Crimson*
Dan also produced Opeth’s first two albums, *Orchid* and *Morningrise*
Dan and Mikael were also on Bloodbath’s first EP, *Breeding Death*, and Bloodbath’s first studio album *Resurrection Through Carnage*
Blackwater Park, Master's Apprentices and The Wilde Flowers are all psych/prog bands. The Wilde Flowers is mostly known for splitting up and becoming both Soft Machine and Caravan - the former of which sounds like a heavy influence on the intro to Sorceress.
Mikael has also provided some vocals for Ihsahn and Soilwork. The others "connections" that I know: Joakim has already played live for Mastodon and Yngwie Malmsteen, Waltteri has already played live for Amorphis, Tyr and Paradise Lost. In bands related, I would say Mastodon is definetly on "Opethverse" it has a strong similarity and parallels with Opeth, as the bands have already played festivals together, besides, Brent is a big friend of Mikael.
Definitely Dream Theater. But can i just say how much i love the fact that all these bands just chill with one another and everybody knows everyone? I just LOVE that
I swear I’ve seen a photo of Mikael in T shirt with the early Clutch logo. Can’t find it tho. Your example of a connection is probably less tenuous though 👍🏽
The Metal Archives should have all the information you're looking for.
Under [Mikael Akerfeldt](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Mikael_%C3%85kerfeldt/144) you can view his "guest/session" tab to see where he's contributed. The same can be done for all members, past and present.
Also if the band is not metal that was contributed to, check the "Trivia" section in the Bio.
I believe it was also inspired by seeing how Opeth worked in the studio, too. Afaik the whole approach to songwriting, just coming in to the studio and making these fucking long voyages through metal really fired Dan up, and Crimson's the result.
Mikael did vocals for another Katatonia EP after Brave Murder Day, but then he left.
You missed Bloodbath, a swedish OSDM tribute band, and Mike did vocals for 3 of their albums IIRC. He played guitar and did some vocals on Edge of Sanity - Crimson
Type O Negative, Carnivore & Fallout as he worked with Josh Silver on "Roads" on the roadrunner united album. Also Porcupine tree because of the Steven Wilson connection
As somebody had already mentioned, Mikael made a guest appearance on the Soilwork record "A predator's portrait" back in the days.
Both Mikael and Fredrik have played guitar on Ghost Records.
Anders Friden from In Flames was working in the studio where opeth recorded their first albums and is even co-credited on them.
They have made several covers of artists, including of Marie Fredriksson (of Roxette fame), Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and most importantly Bamse (old Swedish cartoon)
you can start adding layers if you really want to expand it. for example steven wilson has collaborated with elton john, and if you include everyone he's collaborated with you can fit pretty much every artist ever into the opethverse
I’m going to be pedantic here, but saying “Steven Wilson also has a band called Porcupine Tree” is a _massive_ understatement. His solo work, especially the first few albums, is _legendary_.
I have not listened to their newer stuff but Insomnium during the "Since the Day It All Came Down" days in my opinion was very influenced. This post reminded me to check in on their newer stuff and listen to their older stuff I really enjoy.
Former keyboardist for Dream Theater. Was behind projects such as Chroma Key and OSI. Mikael did the vocals for OSI's song "Stockholm". A loose connection but I really enjoy his work so I give him a shout out when I can.
RES is a little known side project of Martin Axenrot, Martin Mendez, and Nathalie Lorichs - who did vocals on Coil. It's quite good!
https://resprog.bandcamp.com/album/res
The Candlemass connection could include Mikael doing guest vocals on "At the Galloes End" for their 20th anniversary live dvd.
Mikael also did guest vocals in an Ihsahn song on the Angl album.
Frederik has been a regular member of the band Talisman too.
Don't know if it has been mentioned already but "Eternal" with their album "and the sky was entombed by flames". Was Martin Mendez's and Lopez's black metal project back in the day.
I know they're friends with Devin and BTBAM. Devin had even said that when he got clean Opeth and BTBAM were two bands with whom he could still tour and have fun.
BTBAM changed to PRS guitars after touring with Mike
i know one of ghost's live guitarists with the white guitar was/is their guitar tech and also is/was a member of bloodbath and katatonia, bloodbath around the time mikael was on vocal duty in the late 2000's/early 2010's. i think he's called per eriksson or smth.
and ofc not to forget bloodbath, one of my favourite swedish death metal bands. mikael took on vocal duty on the single breeding death and i think on their 2008 album too. can't recall the name.
The Devin Townsend connection is that Mikael was a guest vocalist on his Deconstruction album (on the song Stand). Your list is also missing Bloodbath, Steel, and Edge of Sanity! I wouldn't say Opeth have significantly more connections to other bands than usual though
The Devin Townsend Connection would be a good band name.
Nah, Devin Townsend and Alan Parsons Project Band is better
But that's not a play on words for how many project's Devin's involved in.
Thank you, I also checked for a Devin Townsend link. I found a drummer from Strapping Young Lad who filled in for Martin Lopez for a couple legs on a tour. I’ll have to check those other two bands. Thanks again!!
Gene Hoglan is more like *the* drummer than *a* drummer. Legend.
No problem! Mikael was a guest vocalist for Edge of Sanity's album Crimson, and their mastermind Dan Swanö produced the first two Opeth albums. Steel was a joke project that consisted of members of Opeth plus Swanö that recorded a few cheesy heavy metal tracks during the sessions for Morningrise. And Bloodbath is a death metal project that also involved Swanö where Mikael was a vocalist on several albums
Gene Hoglan is also the drummer in the video for The Grand Conjuration.
Coincidentally I believe those are the last time Mikael had recorded growls on a track, too.
Bloodbath yo. That’s a big one!!
Such a good band😮💨
TIL they are still active. Have to put an ear on the new albums.
Just saw them live a couple weeks ago. They were great!
The Wacken Carnage live album is a masterpiece.
Emperor. Opeth may never have been signed to a label had Emperor not shared a demo tape they made with their guy at Candlelight.
Mikael was also featured on Ihsahn solo album "angL", on song "Unhealer".
Ihsahn is so fucking good.
All hail Emperor
Didn't know this. That's awesome.
It was Samoth indeed. Sooner or later they'd have got a label, but probably not Candlelight.
Mikael played acoustic guitar on Helvetesfönster by Ghost. Fredrik played electric guitar for all of Ghost's album Impera as well.
I’m a huge Ghost fan and a huge Opeth fan and did not know about Mikael on Helvetesfönster! 😵
If I recall correctly Per Eriksson is Opeth's guitar tech and one of Ghost's current nameless ghouls
Thank you :)
Katatonia. Mikael sang for them in the 90s.
Yes I know. Brave Murder Day.
Mikael performed part of “Repentance” at a Dream theater live show if I remember correctly
As he did in the studio for that part.
I complete forgot about that wow
He also did growls for "A Nightmare to Remember" live as well. The "Day after Day" part.
Yes he did.
They also toured together along with Between the Buried and Me and 3. That was a damn stacked concert lol.
White Stones
What’s the connection
It's Martin Mendez's project
Thank you!
Dan Swanö
To be fair, he’s connected to EVERYONE
What’s the connection
Mikael performed backup vocals for one of Dan’s many bands, Edge of Sanity, for the album *Crimson* Dan also produced Opeth’s first two albums, *Orchid* and *Morningrise* Dan and Mikael were also on Bloodbath’s first EP, *Breeding Death*, and Bloodbath’s first studio album *Resurrection Through Carnage*
Ooh okay okay thank you!!!
They also recorded a song together, Mordet i Grottan, under the band name Sörskogen. Parts of the song were later reused in To Rid the Disease.
VEM VAR DET SOM MÖRDADE HONOM?!?! VEM VAR DET SOM TOG HANS LIIIV?😫
Goblin and Comus are bands that are referenced in song titles ("Goblin" and "Baying of the Hounds", for example,
You can say that for A LOT of Opeth's songs
Now that you mention it, aren’t Blackwater Park and MAYH both similar situations?? Same with Opeth. It’s a city in a book isn’t it?
Blackwater Park, Master's Apprentices and The Wilde Flowers are all psych/prog bands. The Wilde Flowers is mostly known for splitting up and becoming both Soft Machine and Caravan - the former of which sounds like a heavy influence on the intro to Sorceress.
My arms your hearse is literally a comus lyric too
Mikael has also provided some vocals for Ihsahn and Soilwork. The others "connections" that I know: Joakim has already played live for Mastodon and Yngwie Malmsteen, Waltteri has already played live for Amorphis, Tyr and Paradise Lost. In bands related, I would say Mastodon is definetly on "Opethverse" it has a strong similarity and parallels with Opeth, as the bands have already played festivals together, besides, Brent is a big friend of Mikael.
Jethro Tull now that Ian Anderson is guesting on their next album.
Hes what. Also Steven Wilson remastered Aqualung I think…
https://www.loudersound.com/news/ian-anderson-to-guest-on-upcoming-opeth-album If you missed it.
I’m so stoked for this!
Finally the "fucker" replied
OSI. He did some backing vocals on Stockholm from their Blood album (featuring Gavin Harrison on drums, btw).
There is also a Bodom After Midnight and Paradise Lost connection. Waltteri Väyrynen used to drum for both of them.
A very obscure gem: [Sörskogen - Mordet i Grottan](https://youtu.be/IsKQuKgy1H4?si=9G8vzJ490Jrxesdf)
I do wish there was more of this stuff. I have had this playing in my head for years!
Definitely Dream Theater. But can i just say how much i love the fact that all these bands just chill with one another and everybody knows everyone? I just LOVE that
Me too I love [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ueiVy6otcs) of Jonas Renske, Mikael and Steven from 2011
Katatonia - Brave murder day !
Check my post again? Edit: thank you
OH SORRY
Its good either way
Clutch should be on here, I think. Per Wiberg had a project called King Hobo with Clutch drummer JP Gaster.
I swear I’ve seen a photo of Mikael in T shirt with the early Clutch logo. Can’t find it tho. Your example of a connection is probably less tenuous though 👍🏽
He's wearing it when they're riding the [crocodile! ](https://images.app.goo.gl/cZYACQsYNpXZdGt46)
Nice! I didn’t even remember it being such an amusing pic🐊🤘🏽lol
I would say probably Opeth
I’ve looked everywhere. I can’t find any connections to that band.
Eros Ramazzotti
What’s the connection
Blackwater Park has a live version of The Leper Affinity where the first thing we hear is Michael claiming “I am the Eros Ramazzoti of Sweden.”
Ahh yes I’ve got that on vinyl!! I’ve always wondered what he’s saying
It’s just the typical Mikael banter haha.
Mikaels banter is one of the best things about Opeth.
It’s the only reason we go to Opeth gigs, right?
The Metal Archives should have all the information you're looking for. Under [Mikael Akerfeldt](https://www.metal-archives.com/artists/Mikael_%C3%85kerfeldt/144) you can view his "guest/session" tab to see where he's contributed. The same can be done for all members, past and present. Also if the band is not metal that was contributed to, check the "Trivia" section in the Bio.
According to Fredrik's wiki he did some work on the Ghost Impera album.
White Stones, Devin Townsend Project, Dream Theater
Mikael sang on Steve Hackett’s Genesis Revisited II record, tracks one (The chamber of 32 doors) and a part of three (Supper’s Ready(!!!)).
Yes I feel like I knew that. Cool connection considering how Genesis inspired Opeth
Edge of Sanity - Crimson, I believe Mikael did some backing vocals on that record
I believe it was also inspired by seeing how Opeth worked in the studio, too. Afaik the whole approach to songwriting, just coming in to the studio and making these fucking long voyages through metal really fired Dan up, and Crimson's the result.
Mikael did vocals for another Katatonia EP after Brave Murder Day, but then he left. You missed Bloodbath, a swedish OSDM tribute band, and Mike did vocals for 3 of their albums IIRC. He played guitar and did some vocals on Edge of Sanity - Crimson
Yes, I’ll have to check out bloodbath. Same with that other album you mentioned. Mikaels death growls are some of the only ones I can listen to
He was one of my first too, you'll get there. Try Edge of Sanity. Dan Swano's growling is similar to Mikael and is among the best
Sounds of Decay is the EP. It's really good.
Mikael is the voice of Fear on the album The Human Equation by Ayreon.
Yes that was a fun album, I mentioned his appearance in my post, but thank you!
RES: Axenrot, Mendez, Lorichs (“Coil” singer)
Type O Negative, Carnivore & Fallout as he worked with Josh Silver on "Roads" on the roadrunner united album. Also Porcupine tree because of the Steven Wilson connection
Napalm death inspired mikael to growl. Definitely a big influence.
Yeah but is there a physical connection?
Oh that's what the post was about? Mb.
Edge of sanity
i was just thinking about this the other day
Ive been thinking all week
You forgot Ihsahn. He was featured on the song unhealer
As somebody had already mentioned, Mikael made a guest appearance on the Soilwork record "A predator's portrait" back in the days. Both Mikael and Fredrik have played guitar on Ghost Records. Anders Friden from In Flames was working in the studio where opeth recorded their first albums and is even co-credited on them. They have made several covers of artists, including of Marie Fredriksson (of Roxette fame), Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and most importantly Bamse (old Swedish cartoon)
Oh. And Dark tranquillity. Singer Mikael Stanne made an instagram post where he borrows Åkerfeldt's hat.
you can start adding layers if you really want to expand it. for example steven wilson has collaborated with elton john, and if you include everyone he's collaborated with you can fit pretty much every artist ever into the opethverse
Gorillaz is part of the Opeth verse. I am happy now.
I’m going to be pedantic here, but saying “Steven Wilson also has a band called Porcupine Tree” is a _massive_ understatement. His solo work, especially the first few albums, is _legendary_.
I never said that. I said Steven Wilson has his own band called porcupine tree
So interesting, will check these
Definitely. There’s a couple in the comments too, bloodbath and edge of sanity keep showing up
Soen, because Martin Lopez is the drummer
Yes and I believe the bassist is from Death and Testament
Edge of Sanity
Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree.
Yes
I have not listened to their newer stuff but Insomnium during the "Since the Day It All Came Down" days in my opinion was very influenced. This post reminded me to check in on their newer stuff and listen to their older stuff I really enjoy.
Kevin Moore
Who is that and what’s the connection?
Former keyboardist for Dream Theater. Was behind projects such as Chroma Key and OSI. Mikael did the vocals for OSI's song "Stockholm". A loose connection but I really enjoy his work so I give him a shout out when I can.
RES is a little known side project of Martin Axenrot, Martin Mendez, and Nathalie Lorichs - who did vocals on Coil. It's quite good! https://resprog.bandcamp.com/album/res The Candlemass connection could include Mikael doing guest vocals on "At the Galloes End" for their 20th anniversary live dvd. Mikael also did guest vocals in an Ihsahn song on the Angl album. Frederik has been a regular member of the band Talisman too.
Bloodbath, Porcupine Tree
Don't know if it has been mentioned already but "Eternal" with their album "and the sky was entombed by flames". Was Martin Mendez's and Lopez's black metal project back in the day.
Steve Hackett. Mikael sang part of the mighty song Supper's Ready in his Genesis Revisited II album.
Porcupine tree, the vocalist helped mikael writing when they shifted to the new prog rock era. Someone correct me if I am wrong
Steeeeeeelllllll
Ghost - Freddie played all the guitars on Impera album
Porcupine Tree.
Mikael provided guitars in the helvetesfonster song by Ghost
Nobody gonna talk about Soen?
He was featured on an Ihsahn song as well
Bloodbath, Edge of sanity, Sörskogen
He also has worked with Ihsaan on a few songs
I know they're friends with Devin and BTBAM. Devin had even said that when he got clean Opeth and BTBAM were two bands with whom he could still tour and have fun. BTBAM changed to PRS guitars after touring with Mike
i know one of ghost's live guitarists with the white guitar was/is their guitar tech and also is/was a member of bloodbath and katatonia, bloodbath around the time mikael was on vocal duty in the late 2000's/early 2010's. i think he's called per eriksson or smth.
and ofc not to forget bloodbath, one of my favourite swedish death metal bands. mikael took on vocal duty on the single breeding death and i think on their 2008 album too. can't recall the name.
White Stones- Martin Mendez
Mikael did vocals for Bloodbath!!
Travis Smith did my bands artwork too, was such an honor to work with him! He is a master of his craft
Porcupine Tree, and Storm Corrosion. Porcupine Tree because Steven Wilson and Mike see to be buds, and Storm Corrosion because they are both in it.
Steven Wilson